2015: Can Lagos PDP get it right?

For 14 years, Lagos State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has coveted the seat of government. But the opposition party has lost its deposit in four general elections. Will the party make a difference in 2015?

When the PDP leaders from the state visited former President Olusegun Obasanjo in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, recently, they were full of bravado. The chairman of the party, Captain Tunji Shelle (rtd), who led the team, declared the party’s intention to “capture” the Centre of Excellence in the next general election. Firing salvos at the ruling Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), he assured the former President that no stone would be left unturned, until victory is attained. Lagos Sate PDP Publicity Secretary Ganiyu Taofeek also said that the party would perform better than the ACN, if elected into power.

The missile was promptly replied. ACN National Publicity Secretary Alhaji Lai Mohammed described the PDP’s motive as empty threat and wishful thinking. He said PDP leaders were busy chasing shadows, adding that the party lacked the programmes that can attract votes from Lagosians. Mohammed also said that the achievements of Fashola Administration have sealed the pact between Lagosians and the progressive party. “They are joking, they cannot capture Lagos,” he maintained.

Since 1999, PDP has been producing failed governorship candidates in Lagos State. The party has revealed itself as a platform made up of Generals without battalions. In that year, Chief Dapo Sarumi from Epe Division was floored by the Alliance for Democracy (AD) candidate, Senator Bola Tinubu, his compatriot in the defunct Social Democratic Party (SDP). In 2003, Tinubu also triumphed over the PDP flag bearer, the late Mr. Funso Williams, an engineer, who had defected from AD to PDP. The battle was fiercer in 2007, but Governor Babatunde Fashola (SAN) defeated the PDP challenger, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, a defector from the AD. In 2011, ACN and PDP clashed again, with Fashola defeating the former Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASSA) Director-General, Dr. Adegboyega Dosumu. Since Lagos PDP is perceived by Lagosians as a party that opposed the creation of additional councils in the state, the party could not attract votes from the grassroots at every local government election.

To observers, Lagos PDP has its inherent structural weaknesses. However, the bane of the party is that it is addicted to crises. Recurrent personality clashes and ego war among party chieftains have deepened the disunity in the fold, making the party to go into periodic elections as a divided house. Although many aggrieved AD and ACN chieftains have defected to the party, they have often lamented their decision to be part of a sinking ship. Some of them have retraced their steps back to the progressive fold. Others who stayed on out of frustration continued to play passive roles in the conservative camp.

Obasanjo appeared more realistic than the foot soldiers in Lagos. He dissected the ailing chapter, submitting that it has been retarded by the promotion of personal and particularistic interests over group interest. Those claiming to be leaders are larger than their followers. The former Board of Trustees (BOT) chairman described the platform as a party in the wilderness in Lagos State. For members to restore it to the right path, he said they needed to work and build the polarised party together. The former President reasoned that Lagos PDP chieftains must sink their differences to make a headway. “If only the leaders would sink their ego and regard the party’s interest as supreme and above that of individual, then, the party will come out strong and able to wrest power from the ruling party”, he advised.

Enveloped in protracted crises, Lagos PDP mirrors the rot and organisational deficiency of the party in the Southwest. The baseline is the lack of unifying and transformational leadership to offer a new direction. It is glaring that the chapter needs more than its executive committee to generate ideals, fashion out winning strategies, and offer gerontocratic guidance. While the “G-14”, comprising elders, including Oba Olatunji Hamzat, Tinubu, Prince Tajudeen Olusi, Alhaji Busura Alebiosu, Chief Rabiu Oluwa, Prince Abiodun Ogunleye and Apostle Olorunfunmi Basorun, moderates the internal tensions in the Lagos ACN, their counterparts in the PDP, including Commodore Olabode George (rtd), Chief Rafiu Jafojo, Chief Alaba Williams, Alhaji Muritala Asorobi, Mrs Modupe Sasore, Senator Seye Ogunlewe, Senator Wahab Dosunmu, and Senator Musiliu Obanikoro belong to different caucuses. The groups or camps are always locked in the battle of supremacy. At a reconciliation meeting held at the party secretariat and chaired by Pa Aderibigbe Shitta, armed thugs invaded the venue and dispersed the party faithful.

The crisis of leadership that has hit the party is fatal. I has been escalating and the party leaders who are in disarray, have been building on the crisis-ridden edifice. Between 1999 and 2013, AD and ACN have only produced three chairmen-the late Chief Ganiyu Dawodu, Prince Ogunleye and Otunba Oladele Ajomale. But PDP has produced six chairmen; Basorun, Asorobi, Rasheed Williams, Bayo Williams, Setonji Koshoedo, and Shelle.

Instructively, Lagos PDP had a solid foundation. Its first chairman, Basorun, is a progressive. But his tenure was short. When he handed over to Asorobi, the party started to move at a snail’s speed. The former chairman was rusticated. But his followers kicked and the party broke into several camps. Later, he was readmitted by the Williams leadership. Many believed that had Ajiroba Williams been able to implement his reconciliation programmes fully, Lagos PDP would have been better for it. The former BOT member was abroad when he was abruptly replaced with a caretaker chairman.

After the 2007 general elections, there was disenchantment towards the leadership of George. The party leader had backed Funso Williams’ widow, Hilda, against Obanikoro. The primaries was deadlock during the rerun. A national leader of the party, Chief Tony Anenih, who observed the congress in Lagos, declared that it appeared to him that Obanikoro carried the day. The result of the governorship primaries was later announced in Abuja, to the consternation of George’s group. The party went into the general election as a divided entity. It was alleged that the campaign structure already in place was suddenly dissolved by George and a new one set up. Party members complained about the misuse of logistics. It was evident that many leaders showed hypocritical commitment to party victory.

Irked by the dismal failure at the polls, a party chieftain, Sunday Olaifa, said that he had the missed the target of winning power, advising that he should step aside as the arrowhead of the chapter. “Commodore Olabode George should step aside as the arrowhead and leader of the party in Lagos State, having led the party to three general elections without good results”, he said. But it was difficult to shove George aside.

As the party prepared for the 2011 polls, it was engulfed with more crises. Obanikoro’s camp installed a former state legislator, Hamid Olorunoje, as the parallel chairman. In a swift reaction, the national leadership set up a reconciliation committee led by Chief Tunde Oshunrinde, a party chieftain from Ogun State. The committee proposed a sharing formula for the composition of the state executive committee. The report was jettisoned. Thus, when Koshoedo was in the saddle as chairman, there were allegations of marginalisation against Ogunlewe/Dosunmu/Sasore Camp, Olorunoje Group and Jafojo Group. Few weeks to the 2011 general elections, notable chieftains, including Chief Lanre Rasak, Demola Seriki, Wale Ahmed, and Tunde Salau, deserted the PDP train and joined forces with the ACN. It was clear that Dr Dosunmu, who contested against Fashola, lacked the political pedigree of his predecessors; Sarumi, Funso Williams, and Obanikoro.

Before the 2011 elections, George, the former Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA) , chair, was sentenced to prison for corruption. Yet, he continued to dictate the tune from the prison. It was a setback for the political career of a combative party leader. Out of prison, George continued to play leadership role, but he could not command the respect of many chieftains. Initially, there was a lull in party activities, until the emergence of Shelle as the chairman.

The new chairman has boasted that he will become the first chairman to produce a governor in Lagos State. He has held series of meetings with aggrieved leaders. During the last Christmas, he and other members of his team visited some leaders, including Ogunlewe, at home to pacify him and elicit his cooperation. Shelle also led the party to a rally in Ikoyi, where he unfolded plans to take the party to grater height. PDP is contesting the results of the local government elections in some Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs).

However, ACN has described the party chairman as a day dreamer, maintaining that there will be no vacancy at the Alausa State House in 2015. ACN chairman in Lagos State, Ajomale, said “with the level of work Governor Fashola has done in the state, Lagosians will definitely vote for continuity”. Echoing him, the Publicity Secretary, Comrade Joe Igbokwe, queried: “What has the PDP federal government done for Lagosians to win their votes? What programmes are they offering? What is the party’s score card?” Igbokwe said Lagosians who have enjoined the dividends of democracy under Tinubu and Fashola administrations would not sever relationship with the progressive party. “PDP is a disaster at the national level and Lagos State will not be contaminated by its virus of destruction”, he added.

whao! Llai (lie) mohammed, when a u going to stop this ur archaic and uneducated approach to political issues in lagos state in particular. well, maybe the cocaine ur leader, bola tinubu took for breakfast is affecting ur thinking faculty or the igbo (hemp) he took for launch is affecting ur medulla unballaganta abi the heroine he took for dinner is affecting ur brain. I can agrees with u Lie (Lai) mohammed that Fasola is our son but not a bastard bola hammed tinubu as he was so called. In the first instance, Lai (Lie) re u a LAGOSIAN? Pls go tio OGUN state where u belongs where u have been forsaken. idiots, beast if no nation, saddist who wishes his people a bad omen. I rest my case

OLAOYE

Jasper is a name of a useless dog in my neighbourhood. It barks when the wind blow and run under cover when hoodlums invade its master’s house. From your comment on honourable citizens like LAI MUHAMMAD and TINUBU you only portrail your self as one of those boot-leaker working to see the downfall of this country at all cost. “Ole omo akotile ta”

PDP is a disaster in this country they are NEST OF KILLERS as my Prof.discribe them,let them keep on dreaming even come 2015 they will loss presidency in JESUS name amen

OLAOYE

A PARTY THAT PARRADES THE LIKES OF BODE GEORGE WHO WAS SENTENCED FOR FRAUD AS IT LEADER WILL NEVER WIN AN ELECTION ANY WHERE IN THE SOUTH-WEST

Sharondevik

From what is going on now ACN is loosing peoples surport. Look at Ayobo road, Aina Ajobo streat at Ogba that leads to Ifako Ijaiye lga is an eyesore. This is just to mention a few. Fashola has tried on his 1st term. Am expecting a darkhorse to take over lagos in 2015.

Felix Ojo

Sharon Devil! U are indeed devilish. Is darkness another name for your PDP? They will never take over SW again talk less, Lagos! Stop praying for retrogression!

Sharondevik

My bro felix darkhorse means not well known, here i mean party like LP etc. U dont call ur fellow devil because of an opinion shared.